Jim Henson +18
Wow — it’s now been 18 years since Muppets creator Jim Henson died.
Biographies
Two Out, Two In
It’s been 24 hours of highly unusual retirements. Golf legend Annika Sorenstam said last night that she would quit golf at the end of the 2008 season. This even though she’s currently ranked number two in the world behind Lorena Ochoa of Mexico.
Stevie Wonder, Still a Pup
Pop star Stevie Wonder is only 58 today.
When Was Robert Pattinson Born?
Actor Robert Pattinson was born on 13 May 1986, according to his representatives at 3 Arts Entertainment.There’s been some dispute online about the exact date. Everyone seems to agree on 1986, but some sources say May 13th and some say May 14th. Who2 editor Paul Hehn cleared it up by contacting Pattinson’s management company, 3 Arts Entertainment. Their rep replied with this terse but friendly message: “Hey Paul – Rob’s D.O.B is 5/13/86.”Case closed!
Jenna Bush Is Married
Presidential daughter Jenna Bush was married tonight to Henry Hager in Crawford, Texas, according to Reuters.Her twin sister Barbara Bush was the maid of honor.The news service notes, “A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Bush would take Hager’s name or where the newlyweds would take their honeymoon.”
The Last of the Anti-Hitler Heroes
Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager has died in Germany at age 90. He was the last survivor of the July 1944 plot that came within a whisker of assassinating Adolf Hitler.
Wes Anderson, Almost 40
Filmmaker Wes Anderson — the quirky director of Rushmore and The Darjeeling Limited — enters the last year of his 30s today. He’s 39.
Thank You, Diane Rosenschein!
Diane, you are truly a faithful reader and a goddess of proofreading. Never stop sharing!Those thank-you checks should clear customs any day now.
Barbaro’s Fifth
Late, great racehorse Barbaro was born five years ago today. Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but two weeks later he shattered his leg while running in the Preakness Stakes, the second race in the Triple Crown. Despite state-of-the-art treatment, he died in January of 2007 of laminitis. That’ the same crazy horse-hoof illness that got Secretariat.
Nebraska Rebel
Interesting story in The New York Times today about Ernie Chambers, the senior senator in Nebraska’s legislature. He’s being forced out by term limits after nearly 40 years in the legislature.